But asked whether, down the line, he still wants the position - which went to Mr Morrison - he says no.

"No, for me it's very clear, and I hope this is the case, that there is now a long period of government under Scott Morrison," he told Sky News in a special on Wednesday night about the leadership tussle and what followed.

"I think you've got a situation now where Scott Morrison I think, will really, I think, find his stride in this three years and set us up well for another three or six beyond that."

The minister has also argued that Mr Turnbull brought on his own demise by calling the first leadership spill.

"Malcolm made a fatal decision in going into the Tuesday meeting and declaring open the leadership. I didn't go in and challenge, Malcolm had made a decision. It wasn't my intention to challenge that week," he said.

"Again, it was a demonstration in my mind of his flawed political judgement, and that's what triggered the events last August."

Mr Dutton isn't the only person to have some rough words about Mr Turnbull, who is writing a book about his time in politics due for release later this year.

Former defence industry minister and retired MP Steve Ciobo had some himself, stemming from a "boozy dinner" with a former senior member of the Howard government.

"Malcolm made the remark to me, he said the problem with politics - and I'm not one to swear but I want to give an accurate portrayal - he said the problem with politics is that it f*cks people up.

"The point about that is that I think unfortunately what we've seen now in the months that have ensued, is that Malcolm in many respects has become what he was rejecting back then."